Piano-modulator-control device



J HAMMOND, JR

PIANO MODULATOR CONTROL DEVICE July 19, 1927. 1 ,635,994

Filed April 8, 1925 Fig.1

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5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIANO-MODULATOR-CONTROL DEVICE.

Application filed'April 8, 1925. Serial No. 21,483.

This invention relates to im 'iroven'ients in musical instruments of the percussive type and more particularly to improved control devices for tone modulators for such instruments.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved stringed musical instrument including a plurality of tuned strings positioned within a sound insulated casing and having means forming part of the casing for variably controlling the intensity of sound emitted therefrom, and to providean improved pedal device for operating said means.

An important feature of the invention relates to the combination of an instrument having a soft pedal or pianissimo action and improved modulating means, and a control device to operate them, either independently or together, to improve the control of the musical effects produced by the instrument.

Other objects will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 1s a front elevation partly in section of a piano embodying features of the in vention, the section being taken on the line 1-1 of the Figure 2;

Fig. 2 is a. sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is ajdetailed view of the operating mechanism of the structure shown in Fig. 2 when adjusted to one of its positions; and

, Fig. l is a detailed view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3 when adjusted in a different position.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several igures of the drawing.

In thefo'llowmg description and claims parts will be identified by specific, names for convenience of expression, but they are intended to be as genericin their application to similar parts or equivalent construction as the art will permit;

Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a musical instrument of the percussive type, that shownbeing a grand piano 10, provided with usual pedals l1, l2 and 13, which are mounted in a frame dependin from the main portion of the piano. The frame consists of a block 14;, carried by a pair of upright side members 15 and 16, secured at their upper endsto a second block 17. The block 17 is supported on a member 18 secured to the body of the piano. The pedals 12 and 13 are operatively interconnected to two rods 20 and 21, which conand to which is rigidly secured a collar Loosely mounted on the rod 22 and resting on the collar 23 is a member 2d which is provided with a lug 25, which cooperates ith one armof a bell-crank 26 which is pivoted at 27 to the member 18. The other end of the boll-crank 26 passes through a slot in the piano casing a d engages a recess 28 in the bed of the key action 30. This bed is slidably mounted on the framework of the piano and is held to'the left by means of a spring 3i. Movement of the pedal 11 thus adjusts the position of the hammers of the piano action 30 relative to the strings.

The' lug 25 also cooperates with a bellcrank 33 which is pivoted at 34 to the member 18. Pins 35 and 36 are provided which act as stops for thebell-cranks 26 and 33. he other end of the bell-crank is con nected to alinkST, the other end of which is pivoted to an arm 38 rigidly secured to a shaft 40 which is supported in bearings 4-1 and a2. Rigidly secured to the shaft at) is a collar which prevents it from sliding through the bearings ll and One end of a spring a l is attached to the link 3''? and the other end is secured to a bracket mounted on the framework of the piano.

' For varying the intensity of sound emitted from the instrument independently of the percussion oft-he strings and thus without affecting the harmonics of the tones produc ed by the strings, there is provided tone modulating mechanism which Wlll now be.

described.

Ri 'idly secured to the shaft AM) is an arm 46 to which is pivoted a link 4? the other end ofwhich is connected to a rod 48. Pivoted to the rod 48 is a plurality of arms 50, mounted upon an equal number of tone modulators 51., which are pivoted for rota tion about their longitudinal axes in the framework of the piano. Rigidly secured to the top ofthe shaft 40 isan arm 52 to which is pivoted a link 53 the other end of which is connected to a rod 54. To the rod 54 is pivoted a plurality of arms 55 which are mounted on an equal number of tone modulators 56 which are pivoted in the framework of the piano.

The modulators 56 are mounted over the strings 60 which are carried by the frame 61. A suitable piano action 62 is provided which is operated in a' well known manner from the keys 63. The action 62 includes a striking hammer which delivers a sharp, quick blow to the strings when the respective key is actuated, thus causing the strings to vibrate and produce a musical note. The casing of the piano is substantially soundproof so that when the modulators 51 are closed, the minimum of musical tone is emitted from the instrument.

For rotating the member 24, there is provided on it a second lug 65 (see Figures 2, 3 and 4.) which is pivoted to a link 66 the other end of which is connected to an arm 67 which is rigidly secured to a shaft 68, which is mounted for rotation in the bearings 70 and 71. At the end of the shaft 68 is rigidly secured a handle 72. Rigidly secured to the middle of the shaft 68 is an impositive stop device, preferably consisting of a clicker segment '73 and provided with three notches which cooperate with a clicker 74 secured to the framework of the piano.

In the operation of this invention when the soft pedal 11 is depressed the rod 22 is lifted, thereby lifting the collar 23 and the member 24, this causes the bell-crank26 to be rotated in a clockwise direction thus moving the keyboard 30 to the right against the action of the spring 31, this throws on the standard soft pedal action of the piano. At the same time the bell-crank 33 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1. This causes both of the links 47 and 53 to be moved to the right which by means of the rods 48 and 54 causes the modulators 51 and 56 to be closed.

If it is desired to operate the modulators without throwing on the soft pedal action, the handle 72 is moved to the left thereby moving the link 66 to the right and rotating the member 24 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 2, to that shown in Fig. 3. This will throw the lug 25 out of alignment with the bell-crank 26 so that when the soft pedal 11 is depressed, it will only operate the bell-crank 33 thus closing the modulators without affecting the soft pedalaction. 4

If it is desired to operate only the soft pedal action without affecting the modulators, the handle'72 is moved to the right, thereby rotating the member 24 in a counterclockwise direction which moves the lug 25 out of alignment with the bell-crank 33, so that when the soft pedal '11 is depressed it will only operate the bell-crank 26 to throw hammers with respect to sai on the standard soft pedal action, as shown in Fig. 4.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a modulating system particularly well adapted for musical instruments of the percussive type by means of which the intensity of sound emitted from the instrument may be varied in a variety of ways to introduce novel effects in the music. I have found that by the use of the present invention excedingly important musical effects are produced, as the dynamics and tone color may be very effectively varied in a manner hitherto impossible upon standard pianoforte. Furthermore the sound produced by a string may be varied as may be desired while the note is sustained, and thus a wide variety of dynamic variations may be employed. A maximum pianissimo effect can be produced through the conjoint action of the above described mechanisms.

The invention upon which this application is based is broader than the specific embodiment shown and described for the purpose of illustrating at least one of the ways in which it may be employed. The scope of the invention is therefore to be understood as not being limited by the present specific description. I intend no limitations other than those im osed by the claims.

What claim is:

1. In a musical instrument of the percussive type, a plurality of hammers, strings arranged to be set into vibration by the impact thereon of said hammers, a plurality of keys for actuating said hammers respectively, means for variably positioning said hammers with respect to said strings to modify the intensity of sound produced by said strings by the impact of the hammers, a plurality of tone modulators for varying the intensity of s'oundemitted from the instrument independently of said hammer positioning mechanism, and means for selectively operating either the hammer positioning mechanism or the independent modulating mechanism. I

2. In a musical instrument of the percussive type, a plurality of hammers, strings arranged to be set into vibration by the impact thereon of said hammers, a plurality of keys for actuating said hammers respectively, means for variably ositioning said dhtrings to modify the intensity of sound produced by said strings b the impact of the hammers, a plurality 0 tone modulators for varying the intensity of sound emitted from the instrument. independently of said hammer positioning mechanism, a sound intensity con-- trol device, and means for operat-ively connecting said device either to the hammer positioning means or to the tone modulators selectively.

3. In a musical instrument of the percusify the intensity of sound produced by said strings by the impact of the hammers, a plurality of tone modulators for varying the intensity of sound emitted from the instrument independently of said hammer positioning mechanism, a sound intensity control pedal, and a selector device for operatively connecting said pedal to the hammer positioning means or to the ton'evmodulators,

or to both.

4. In a musical instrument of the, percussive type, a plurality of hammers, strings arranged to be set into vibration by the impact of the hammers thereon, a pianissimo action for reducing the effect of the'impact oi. said hammers on the strings, a tone modulating device for regulating the volume oi sound emitted from the instrument a pedal,

and selecting means for oper'atively inter connecting the pedal to either the pianissimo action or to the tone modulating device or to both.

5. In a musical instrument of the percussive type, means effective at the moment of percussion for controlling the volume of sound produced from the instrument, additional means effective at any time during the production of sound for controlling the vol ume of sound produced from the instrument, a pedal, and aselector mechanism for operatively interconnecting the pedal with either or both of said sound controlling means.

6. In a musical instrument the combination with a piano having a pianissimo action of a plurality of shutters for variably controlling the intensity of sustained notes, a pedal, and a selector mechanism for opera tively interconnecting the pedal with said pianissimo action or with said shutters selectively.

'7. In a musical instrument, the combination with a piano having a pianissimo action,

of a plurality of shutters for variably controlling the intensity of sustained notes, a pedal, and a selector mechanism for operatively interconnecting the pedal with said pianissimo action orwith said. shutters or with both.

8. In a musical instrument oi the percussive type, the combination with strings and a plurality of hammers for setting said strings into vibration by percussion, of a casing having oppositely disposed apertures and substantially soundproof boundary walls intermediate said apertures, movable closures for apertures, a pianissimo action for controlling the hammers to vary the initial intensity of sound when the strings are set into vibration, a control pedal, and selec trolled by said pedal.

tor mechanism for operatively interconnect ing said pedal with said pianissimo action or with said movable closures selectively.

, 9. In a musical instrument, the combination of strings, means for vibrating said strings by percussion, a pianissimo action for controlling the position of said vibratino Q l means T th respect to said strings, of a sound insu; ting body portion for suppress ing the sound produced by the strings, said body portion having movable closures effective for controlling the volume of sound emitted from the instrument, a pedal, and a selector device interposed between said pedaland 'saidpianissimo action and movable-closures wl'ierebythe operation ofsaid action and closures may be selectively con- 10. In a musical instrument, the combinat on with strings and means for vibrating the strings by percussion, of a. sound insulating body for effectively suppressing the sound produced by the vibration of said strings, means for variably controlling the passage of sound from within said body, a control pedal, and selector mechanism interposed between said pedal and said vibrating means and said sound control means.

11. In a musical instrument having hammer control mechanism and a pedal for controlling said mechanism, a plurality of shutters for varying th volume of sound emitted from said piano, and means interconnecting said shutters and said pedal for actuating said shutters independently of, or simultaneously with, said hammer control mechanism selectively.

12. In a musical instrument having hammer control mechanism and apedal for controlling said mechanism, a plurality of shutters for varying the volume of sound emittedfrom said piano, a control device, and means controlled bysaid device for operatively interconnecting said pedal With said hammer control mechanism or said shutters selectively.

13. In a musical instrument having hammer control mechanism and a pedal'for controlling said mechanism, a plurality of shutters for varying the volume of sound emitted from said piano, a control device, and means controlled by said device for operatively interconnecting said pedal with said hammer control mechanism or said shu intensity of sound emitted from the instrument independently of said hammer positioning mechanism, a sound intensity control device, and means for operatively connecting said device either to the hammer positioning means or to the tone modulators selectively.

15. In a musical instrument of the percussive type, a plurality of hammers, strings arranged to be set into vibration by the impact of the hammers thereon, a planissimo action for reducing the effect of the impact of said hammers on the strings, a tone modulating device for regulating the volume of sound emitted from the instrument, a controller operable at will, and selecting means for operatively interconnecting said concontroller to either the pianissimo action, or

-New York and State of to the tone modulating device or to both.

16. In a musical instrument of the percussive type, means effective at the moment of percussion for controlling the volume of sound produced from the instrument, additional means effective at any time during the production of sound for controlling the volume of sound produced from the instrument, a device movable at the will of an operator, and a selector mechanism for operatively interconnecting said det'ice with either or both of said sound controlling means.

Signed at New York cit in the county of ew York this 7th day of April, A. D. 1925.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR. 

